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Publication of an application for registration pursuant to Article 6(2) of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006 on the protection of geographical indications and designations of origin of agricultural products and foodstuffs

(2006/C 280/05)

This publication confers the right to object to the application pursuant to Article 7 of Council Regulation (EC) No 510/2006. Any objection to this application must be submitted to the Commission within six months of the date of this publication.

SUMMARY

COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 510/2006

Application for registration in accordance with Articles 5 and 17(2)

‘HOŘICKÉ TRUBIČKY’

EC No: CZ/PGI/005/0365/22.09.2004

PDO ( ) PGI ( X )

This summary has been drawn up for information only. For full details, interested parties are invited to consult the full version of the product specification obtainable from the national authorities indicated in section 1 or from the European Commission (1).

1.   Responsible department in the Member State:

2.   Group:

3.   Type of product:

Class 2.4: Bread, pastry, cakes, confectionery, biscuits and other baker's wares — rolled wafers

4.   Specification (summary of requirements under Article 4(2))

4.1   Name: ‘Hořické trubičky’

4.2   Description: Hořice rolled wafers (‘Hořické trubičky’) are small rolled confectionaries from 5 — 19 cm long, with an internal diameter of 10 — 20 mm, made from wafers with a thickness of 0,9 — 1,2 mm; they are light beige in colour and have the odour and taste of a wafer; they are crunchy and have a smooth, delicately porous surface. They are made from the following raw materials: fine wheat pastry flour, powdered milk, vegetable oil, powdered egg yolks, sugar and water.

Several kinds of Hořice rolled wafers are produced: filled, filled and half-coated, filled and coated, sprinkled, sprinkled and half-coated, sprinkled and coated.

The sprinkled rolled wafers are made from two wafers (or possibly one and a half) coated with melted butter blended with honey and sprinkled with a mixture of sugar, grated hazelnuts, or possibly almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, raisins or cocoa powder.

The filled rolled wafers are filled with whipped butter cream of semi-firm consistency with a variety of different flavours. The basic ingredients for the filling are: hydrogenated vegetable oil, sugar or sweetener, cocoa powder, powdered milk, soya flour, vanillin, vanilla, natural flavouring or artificial flavouring.

The preparation of the filled and sprinkled rolled wafers is completed by coating or half-coating them using bitter milk chocolate icing.

4.3   Geographical area: The town of Hořice and adjacent municipalities.

4.4   Proof of origin: Each manufacturer keeps a register of the suppliers of raw materials and of the buyers of the finished products. Each wrapper includes compulsory information about the manufacturer, particularly his address, thereby ensuring that the product is traceable.

The National food processing inspectorate inspects the manufacturing processes, including hygiene standards for the production of foodstuffs and compliance with the specification. The authenticity of the product is certified on the basis of a positive opinion issued by the state inspection body.

4.5   Method of production: A liquid paste of the correct quantities of the products is poured into the tank of a wafer-maker. The mixture is cooked on semi-automatic electrical ‘rotary wafer carousels’ at a temperature of between 150 °C and 160 °C. After cooking, the wafers are left to cool and then rolled by hand, with the help of a cylindrical mould, on a hot plate. The filled rolled wafers are then machine-filled with the whipped butter cream, prepared with the appropriate ingredients chosen according to the desired flavour. Sprinkled rolled wafers are made from two wafers (or possibly one and a half); they are coated in advance with butter blended with honey and sprinkled with a mixture of sugar, grated hazelnuts, or possibly almonds, cinnamon, vanilla, raisins or cocoa powder (according to the variety). The semi-coated rolled wafers are then dipped at one or both ends in the chocolate icing. Fully coated wafers can also be produced. In order to ensure quality and full traceability, packaging of Hořice rolled wafers is carried out in the place of production.

4.6   Link: It can be proven that the know-how of the manufacturers of the association is drawn from historical sources. They work using raw materials, following recipes from the tradition of production in Hořice. The tradition has been perpetuated on account of the know-how being passed on to the new producers from former employees and family members.

Aside from the traditional recipe, the distinctive character of the Hořice rolled wafers depends also on the specific properties of the flour (low in gluten) and the local water (low mineral content, soft, and tapped at a depth of 100 metres) that are used. These particularities help to give the wafers their specific character: exceptionally soft, porous, crunchy and flaky, although the latter characteristic does not prevent them from being rolled into shape.

The first historical mentions of the manufacturing of rolled wafers within the designated geographical area of Hořice date back to 1812, when in the family of Mrs Líčková, little sugary rolls began to be produced for family celebrations and for giving as presents. It was confectioner Karel Kofránek who perfected the family production method after marrying into the family. In 1898, a patent was filed for his invention — an electric wafer-maker. By this time, Hořice rolled wafers were already being commercially manufactured and even exported to Germany, England, France, Turkey, America and Shanghai. They also received a series of awards and distinctions at trade fairs both at home and abroad. From nationalisation in 1949 until 1962, the wafers were manufactured by the Fejt factory, and thereafter under the name of a number of state enterprises. Following the return to the market economy, the members of the association of Hořice rolled wafer manufacturers (‘Sdružení výrobců Hořických trubiček’) decided to renew their links with the traditional production method in the designated geographical area. Although modernisation of the production method was necessary, the recipe and the traditional production techniques are still followed.

Articles in the national and regional press (in publications such as Mladá Fronta Dnes, Noviny Jičínska, Berounský den) and the numerous successes at trade fairs such as EX Plzeň, Siesta, Olima and Salima bear witness to the enduring popularity of Hořice rolled wafers. They have won a total of 65 distinctions and awards at a wide range of national and international trade fairs.

Owing to its unique character, the designation ‘Hořické trubičky’ was registered in the Czech Republic in 1994 as označení původu (designation of origin) No 159.

4.7   Inspection body: 

4.8   Labelling: HOŘICKÉ TRUBIČKY — the name of the producer must form the dominant element on the front of the packaging.

4.9   National requirements: —

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(1)  European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, Agricultural product quality policy, B-1049 Brussels.

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